In its coverage of recent events in Suwayda, Syria, CNN lends credence to the phrase “no Jews, no news” — the perception that some Western media outlets only highlight atrocities in the Middle East when they can link them to Israel.
In recent days, clashes erupted between the Bedouin and Druze communities in Suwayda. Reportedly, the fighting began on July 13, when Bedouin fighters ambushed and robbed the occupants of a vehicle along the Suwayda–Damascus highway. On July 14, Syrian government forces intervened, including the “Red Bands” — a militia affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and commanded by Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during the civil war. The government’s stated aim is to “secure corridors and end the clashes.”
However, there is reason to doubt the government’s intentions. Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the subsequent rise of al-Sharaa, the Syrian government has failed to assert control over Suwayda. Druze leaders and militias, wary of the Islamist roots of both al-Sharaa and much of the military, have resisted attempts to reassert state authority. These concerns, shared by other minority communities like the Kurds and Alawites, have only deepened following the March 2025 massacre of approximately 1,600 civilians — mostly Alawites — in Baniyas.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the death toll in Suwayda reached 166 by July 15, including 88 civilians — 21 of whom were reportedly executed by government forces. Reports have also surfaced of religiously motivated abuses, including the forcible shaving of a Druze sheikh’s mustache — a significant cultural insult.
This is how the ancient ‘Mar Michael’ church looks after being burned down last night in northern Sweida province, Syria.
Islamist aggression violently targets all minorities in Syria – Druze, Alawites, Kurds and Christians.
What else needs to happen for the international… pic.twitter.com/Llc7UxGYiy— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) July 16, 2025
Yet, CNN did not report on any of this — at least not until Israel got involved.
Though the violence began on July 13, CNN’s first article appeared only on July 15, following Israeli airstrikes against Syrian forces advancing toward Suwayda. That report — titled “Who are the Druze and why is Israel bombing Syria to protect them?” — by Mostafa Salem, Mohammed Tawfeeq, and Hira Humayun, showed greater interest in Israel’s role in defending the Druze than in the Syrian government’s role in attacking them.
Consider how the article frames responsibility for civilian deaths. When describing Israel’s strikes, it reports:
“The Syrian foreign ministry said several civilians and security force members were killed,”
and adds that
“CNN… reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment regarding civilian deaths.”
In contrast, regarding the violence instigated by Syrian forces, the article offers only:
“The clashes left at least 30 people dead and injured dozens more as of Tuesday.”
It cites no source, and the death toll figure notably reflects only the lowest estimates, which range from 30 to over 100. It is also significantly lower than SOHR’s estimate — an organization CNN regularly references for casualty reporting in other contexts.
Moreover, CNN appears not to have contacted the Syrian government for comment regarding those civilian deaths. The word “civilian” is used solely in relation to Israeli strikes, despite the SOHR reporting 88 civilian deaths, including 21 executions at the hands of government or affiliated forces.
The omissions and inconsistent standard don’t just perniciously and selectively associate Israel with “civilian casualties,” but distort the entire context in which Israel’s actions, and those of the Druze community, occurred.
This distortion becomes most evident in the final sentence of CNN’s article:
“Israel’s strikes on Syria also complicate al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate authority over the country and promote a potential normalization deal as a victory for Syria’s sovereignty and its people.”
Such framing portrays al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate power as a noble endeavor — without mentioning that this same effort has involved the slaughter of minority communities.
Had CNN acknowledged the full scope of the violence — including the Syrian government’s role in executing civilians and fueling sectarian tensions — its audience would be better equipped to evaluate the actions of both Israel and Syria’s minority groups. Likewise, a consistent standard in reporting alleged civilian casualties would help viewers understand who is actually threatening civilians in Suwayda.